Automatic hypodermic syringe



July 11, 1967 s. J. sARNof-F ETAL AUTOMATIC HYFODERMIC SYRINGE Filed om.1a, 196s s m m mm J Wn g W Nfl' S d d@ J5 MV YW. mv Mv n n lnl l .m 1m 5J QM v Mul n Sm Wm ed. B %Q\ Q\ m. 0% NW Mm .mk Wm N" un mm Nm NQ7/////////// /r//j//w//Qv// United States Patent O 3,330,279 AUTOMATICHYPGDERMIC SYRINGE Stanley J. Sarnoff, McLean, Va. (7801 Woodmont Ave.,

Bethesda, Md. 20014), and John W. Balenger, Rockville, Md.; saidBalenger assignor to said Sarno Filed Oct. 18, 1963, Ser. No. 317,220 4Claims. (Cl. 12S- 218) This invention relates to medicament injectordevices of the gun type wherein a restrained plunger, acted on by aspring under compression, is adapted when released to the action of thespring to quickly expel medicament from Within a cartridge, thecartridge being retained in a holder coupled to the gun.

It is an object ot this invention to provide an injector device in theshape of a slender bar capable of easily being held for operation by theclenched hand of an operator.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a gun for the purposedescribed with a plunger which shall be easily cocked,

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a gun of the characterset forth wherein locking means are provided to prevent inadvertentrelease of the plunger.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means for easilycoupling the gun portion of the injector device with the cartridgeholder.

Other objects will be made clear upon consideration of the followingspecification and claims, when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which FIG. l is, generally, a plan view of theassembled injector, some hidden parts being shown dotted and a partbeing shown in section;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the same device taken on the line 2--2 ofFIG. 1 and in a plane at right angles thereto, FIG. 2 being on a largerscale than FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section of the lefthand end portion of the injector, withcertain parts removed;

FIG. 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary View of the lefthand end of an inner tube orbarrel together with a plug screwed thereon;

FIG. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a view of a detent block utilized to yielding- 1y arrestrotation of the inner barrel with respect to an outer sleeve;

FIG. 8 is a view at right angles to FIG. 5 showing a recessed portion ofthe barrel which cooperates with the blocking plug or detent block;

FIG. 9 is a section on the line 9 9 of FIG. 2, part being broken away;and

FIG. 10 is a development of a ring utilized in the gun.

Now referring to the drawings in greater detail, in FIG. 1 there isillustrated the syringe as assembled for use. Said syringe, in the main,comprises a cartridge holder 10 and an injector 12. The cartridge holdercomprises a generally cylindrical member having a forward end head 14provided with a central perforation 16, the rear face of the head beingmade integral with four lingers 18, which lingers are normally biased tospring apart at their rear free ends. These fingers near their free endsare each provided with a shouldered portion to form a stop for aninternally shouldered sleeve 22 which may be slid along the ngers forthe purpose of compressing 3,330,279 Patented July 11, 1967 ICC themtoward each other when the sleeve is shifted from a position near thehead to a position overlying the ends of the lingers. The head isshouldered, as indicated at 23, to limit the motion of the sleeve in thedirection of the head. The fingers at their free ends are thickened asindicated at 24 in order to enable them to engage with a shouldered endportion 25 of a barrel 26, said barrel forming a part of the gun of theinjector. When the sleeve is shifted toward the head, the resiliency ofthe lingers causes them to spring apart enabling the ready detachment ofthe cartridge holder from the injector and the insertion of a cartridge.

The injector gun 12 is comprised of three main portions, namely, thebarrel 26, previously referred to, a plunger 28 slidable within thebarrel, and an outer sleeve 30 telescopically movable over the barrel26. The barrel at its rear end is threaded and of enlarged internaldiameter, as indicated at 32, in order to readily receive a plug 34, therear portion of which is recessed to provide a shoulder portion 36 toform a seat for a spring 40 reacting between the plug and an abutment 42within the rear end of the outer sleeve 30. Reacting between the forwardface of the plug 34 and an integrally formed collar 44 on the plunger 28is a spring 46, operative, when a spring detent 38 is released from theshoulder portion 36, to drive the plunger through the barrel 26 intoengagement with `a. piston Si) within a cartridge 52 loaded in thecartridge holder. When the plunger does engage the piston, the plunger,under inuence of the spring 46, will drive the piston toward the forwardend of the cartridge holder, driving a needle 54 within the cartridgethrough a stopper 56 of the cartridge and expelling the medicament 58within the cartridge through the needle. The structure of the cartridgeand its mode of operation are well known in the art and need not furtherbe described herein.

The means for releasing the detent includes the abutment 42 previouslyreferred to. The abutment is provided with a cylindrical cavity 43slidably accommodating the rear end of the plunger 28. When the outersleeve is moved toward the cartridge holder, the wall of the cavityengages the spring detent 3S and thrusts it closer to the wall of theplunger, the plunger for this purpose being provided with a slot 60. Forconvenience in mounting the detent, the side of the plunger opposite theslot 60 is also provided with a longitudinal slot 62 similar to slot 60.The detent is a round wire member having a portion extending along theslot 62, thence through a bore 64 in the plunger and then in a directionwhen operated to release position, substantially parallel but, in thelatched position of the plunger, in divergent relationship to theplunger, the free end of the detent being bent reversely as indicated at66 and extending through a second bore 63 in the plunger.

After the plunger had been released for forward movement in the barrelby reason of telescoping action of the outer sleeve with respect to thebarrel, it may be reset by removing the cartridge holder and pressingthe free end thereof against a rigid surface while holding the barrelagainst movement with respect to the hand. Thereupon, the spring detentsnaps to bring the reversely bent portion 66 onto the shoulder 36 of theplug 34.

Means are provided whereby it is not necessary to hold the barrelagainst movement when resetting the plunger, it being merely sufcientfor an operator to hold the outer sleeve 30 while pressing the plungeragainst a rigid surof the plug 34 and in part by that of the abutment42.

Referring in greater detail to FIGS. 5, 6, and 8, it will be noted thatthe plug has two stepped finger portions 70`and intervening spaces 72.The abutment has corresponding recessed portions 74 to accommodate thestepped fingers in one rotative position of the plug relative to theabutment so as to allow the outer sleeve to move relative to the barreland toward the cartridge holder a distance sufficient to release thespring detent 38. In a locked position of partsthe step shoulders 76 ofthe fingers engage a face of the abutment and prevent relativetelescopic motion between the sleeve and the barrel. The rear ends ofthe fingers of the plug in the locked position of parts extend into therecessed portions 74 and engage the side Walls of the abutment to limitthe rotative movementof the outer sleeve. The outer sleeve is providedwith a pair of opposed slots 78, see FIGS. 1, 2, and 9, said slots eachhousing a detent block 80 having a rounded face 81 conforming to andcontinuous with the outer surface of the sleeve. The blocks are held inthe slots by application of a label 79 or ring about the outer surfaceof the sleeve and about the area of the slots. Each block S has a nib 82extending partially between a centering recess 84 inV the outer sleeveand into selected recessed areas 86 in the barrel, the barrel for thispurpose having two pairs of angularly related fiat surfaces 88 and 90,each fiat surface having an arched shoulder as indicated at 92 and 94,FIG. 8, for alternate reception of the nib 82 on the detent block. Thespring 40 hitherto referred to, functions to maintain the nib 82 in snugengagement with the arched shoulder 92 or 94 depending upon the rotativeposition of the outer sleeve relative to the barrel. For convenience inrotating the barrel with respect to the outer sleeve, the forward end ofthe lbarrel is exteriorly fluted as indicated at 98.

To facilitate the proper positioning of the injector with respect to thepatient and for the purposes of better control, the barrel at itsforward end may have formed thereon a pair of opposed ears 100 beneathwhich an operator may place his fingers'lf desired, the ears may bereplaced by rings for receiving the fingers of an operator. Also tocontrol the rate of advance of the plunger, there may be Y provided aport or vent opening 102 at the forward end of the barrel closed off bya ring 104 shown in developed view in FIG. l0 and which ring isshiftable in a groove 105 formed in the exterior of the barrel. The ringhas a variable width opening 106 cut therein to be positioned oppositethe opening 102. By rotation of the ring about 'the barrel, the area ofthe opening 102 occluded by the ring may be varied whereby the rate ofmovementof the plunger may be controlled. A leather washer 108 isprovided to prevent leakage of air past the collar 44.

The gun may also be provided with an extension rod 110-screwed into theend of the plunger or otherwise secured to the rear end of the plunger,the extension being fitted with a finger piece 112. The extensionpassesrfreely through an opening 114 in the rear end of the sleeve 323.This arrangement is useful, for example, when the medicament isparticularly viscous and the spring 46 is not strong enough to drive themedicament through the hollow needle at the desired rate of flow.

While a particular embodiment of this invention has been illustrated anddescribed, modifications thereof will occur to those skilled in the art.It is to be understood, therefore, that this invention is not to Vbelimited tothe particular details disclosed, and it is intended in theappended claims to cover all modifications within the spirit and scopeof this invention.

What is claimed is: Y

1. A hypodermic syringe of the type comprising a cartridge holderadapted to retain a medication containing cartridge, said cartridgehaving a piston movable longitudinally thereof to expel the medicationtherefrom, an injector gun having a barrel with an end wall and meansfor coupling the barrel with the cartridge holder and a plunger movablelongitudinally thereof, drive means within the injector gun for urgingthe plunger to projected position for engagement with the piston `andtransport holding the plunger against movement, release means operativeon said detent means Ato release the plunger to the action of the drivemeans, and said means for coupling the barrel with the cartridge holdercomprising a quick detachable coupling between the holder and the end ofthe barrel which coupling maintains the holder and 'injector gun inlongitudinal alignment, the length of the plunger being such that itextends beyond the barrel end in both the projected and withdrawnpositions of the plunger, and means on the plunger engaging the end wallof the barrel to limit the projecting movement ofthe plunger so as toprevent complete expulsion of the plunger from the barrel.

2. The structure of 'claim 1 wherein the barrel adjacent the couplinghas a port through the wall of the barrel communicating with theinterior'thereof, and means adjustable at the will of an operator tovariably restrict flow of air through said port.

3. A syringe as claimed in claim 1 in which the quick detachablecoupling comprises spring lingers extending longitudinally of the holderand a sleeve slidable longitudinally of the fingers and of an internaldimension to move the free ends of the fingers Vtoward each other whenthe sleeve is at the free ends of the fingers, said injector gun havingabarrel within which the plunger slides, said barrel having a shoulderedend adapted to be embraced by and held in the free ends of said fingers.

4. A hypodermic syringe `comprising a cartridge holder having normallyoutwardly biased spring fingers extending longitudinally of the holderand a shouldered head having an axial opening, said holder beingadaptedto retain a cartridge, the cartridge having a piston thereinmovable longitudinally thereof to expel the medication therein through aneedle, an injector gun barrel having a plunger movable longitudinallythereof and having a neck portion at the end of the barrel, aninternally shouldered y with a variable opening therein rotatable in a.groove in` the barrel, a collar intermediate the ends of the plunger,

a washer on the forward face of the collar, a spring bearing against therear face of the collar, an internally shouldered plug at the rear endof the barrel against which thespring reacts, a detent spring at Vtheupper end of the plunger and in retracted position of the plungerbearing against the shoulder of the plug, an outer sleeve telescopicallyassociated with said barrel, said sleeve having an abutment at the rearend thereof, longitudinal recesses in said abutment, stepped fingerportions on the plug adapted for enteringsaid recesses in one rotationalposition of the sleeve with respect to the barrel to enable relativesliding movement between sleeve and barrel, said abutment preventing thefingers from entering the recesses in another rotational position of thesleeve, means on the abutment for engaging the spring detent to releasethe detent from off the shoulder upon telescoping of the sleeve on thebarrel, whereby to release the plunger to the action of the spring,means for sensing rotation of the sleeve and resiliently holding it ineach of two rotative positions comprising at least one detent block witha nib thereon, a slot in the sleeve receiving said block with the nibdirected to the rear end of the sleeve, means holding the block inplace, the barrel having a longitudinally slotted portion thereof alongthe length of the cartridge, detent meansv with two arched shoulders atthe rear end of the slotted portion, said nib being located against aselected one of the arched shoulders, a spring reacting between theshoulder of the plug and the abutment to resiliently retain the nib incontact with the shoulder of the barrel, said plug lingers havingextensions to engage the sides of the recesses to limit the rotationalmovement of the sleeve with respect to the barrel, an axial Opening atthe rear end of the plunger, a rod with linger piece at the rear endthereof and having its forward end threaded into the plunger, at leastone ear at the forward end of the barrel, a port at the forward end ofthe barrel communicating with the interior of the barrel, and a variablyapertured ring rotatably seated in a groove about the barrel and inposition to variably occlude the port.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,845,930 2/ 1932 Morrow 128-2185 3,055,362 9/ 1962 Uytenbogaart 12S-218 3,066,670 12/1962 Staufer 12S-218 3,114,370 12/1963 Kayler 12S-218 3,136,313 6/1964 Engstrom et al12S-218 3,144,178 8/1964 Sarnoi 12S-218 1() 3,182,660 5/1965 Weydanz etal 12S-218 RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner. ROBERT E. MORGAN,Examiner. 15 D. L. TRULUCK, Assistant Examiner.

1. A HYPODERMIC SYRINGE OF THE TYPE COMPRISING A CARTRIDGE HOLDERADAPTED TO RETAIN A MEDICATION CONTAINING CARTRIDGE, SAID CARTRIDGEHAVING A PISTON MOVABLE LONGITUDINALLY THEREOF TO EXPEL THE MEDICATIONTHEREFROM, AN INJECTOR GUN HAVING A BARREL WITH AN END WALL AND MEANSFOR COUPLING THE BARREL WITH THE CARTRIDGE HOLDER AND A PLUNGER MOVABLELONGITUDINALLY THEREOF, DRIVE MEANS WITHIN THE INJECTOR GUN FOR URGINGTHE PLUNGER TO PROJECTED POSITION FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE PISTON ANDTRANSPORT THEREOF ALONG THE LENGTH OF THE CARTRIDGE, DETENT MEANSHOLDING THE PLUNGER AGAINST MOVEMENT, RELEASE MEANS OPERATIVE ON SAIDDETENT MEANS TO RELEASE THE PLUNGER TO THE ACTION OF THE DRIVE MEANS,AND SAID MEANS FOR COUPLING THE BARREL WITH THE CARTRIDGE HOLDERCOMPRISING A QUICK DETACHABLE COUPLING BETWEEN THE HOLDER AND THE END OFTHE BARREL WHICH COUPLING MAINTAINS THE HOLDER AND INJECTOR GUN INLONGITUDINAL ALIGNMENT, THE LENGTH OF THE PLUNGER BEING SUCH THAT ITEXTENDS BEYOND THE BARREL END IN BOTH THE PROJECTED AND WITHDRAWNPOSITIONS OF THE PLUNGER, AND MEANS ON THE PLUNGER ENGAGING THE END WALLOF THE BARREL TO LIMIT THE PROJECTING MOVEMENT OF THE PLUNGER SO AS TOPREVENT COMPLETE EXPULSION OF THE PLUNGER FROM THE BARREL.